Special Circumstances

Bond was denied on Tuesday for real-estate tycoon Jurgen Schneider, accused of leaving behind $3.6 billion in debts in his native Germany and perpetuating that country's largest post-World War II real-estate scandal. Chief U.S. Magistrate William C. Turnoff denied unspecified bond for Schneider, agreeing with assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Tyrrell that the fugitive had no special circumstances to warrant release from prison. Tyrrell argued said Schneider, 61, should remain jailed because federal courts have refused bond in international extradition proceedings except in special circumstances such as special medical needs.

In response to Daniel Garza's Feb. 4 Viewpoint that Obamacare is a nightmare for Hispanics, I find the writer either disingenuous or biased toward Hispanics. The Affordable Care Act was passed by Congress to address the lack of access to health insurance for many American citizens. Since one of the requirements for U.S. citizenship is the ability to read, write and speak English — unless there are special circumstances or you are over 50 — why should there even be a website in Spanish?

A big thank you to Florida Power & Light Co. for the outstanding job getting the power back on. Listening to the radio in the dark with no air conditioning and hearing about how prepared and ready they were to go to work built confidence. But then seeing the trucks out while the storm was still roaring gives you the feeling that they were doing the best they could, and they did. Every FPL person out in the storm should get a special bonus. And about rate increases, we have "special" circumstances in Florida and there should be no hesitation about allowing "special" increases to replenish FPL reserves.

Q. How can I stay in the United States to care for my disabled baby? My son is a U.S. citizen. I came here to be with my baby when he underwent surgery. The surgery left him in a neurovegetative state. I don't want to leave him in a facility here, and he can't get the medical care he needs in my country. Does the law have any provisions for someone like me? -- D. Gibson, Fort Lauderdale A. In the most sympathetic cases, a local U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services district director can grant a foreigner "deferred action status."

In response to Daniel Garza's Feb. 4 Viewpoint that Obamacare is a nightmare for Hispanics, I find the writer either disingenuous or biased toward Hispanics. The Affordable Care Act was passed by Congress to address the lack of access to health insurance for many American citizens. Since one of the requirements for U.S. citizenship is the ability to read, write and speak English — unless there are special circumstances or you are over 50 — why should there even be a website in Spanish?

Although he broke a host of U.S. laws when he whisked his family out of Cuba and into Florida over the weekend, pilot Orestes Lorenzo Perez probably will not face charges, federal officials said on Monday. "We`re looking at unusual circumstances when someone flies to Cuba," said Customs Service spokesman Cliff Stallings. Lorenzo`s feat -- flying in and out of the United States without permission and bringing undocumented foreigners into the country -- did violate immigration laws. "It would serve no purpose to prosecute these people," said INS spokesman Duke Austin.

The biggest losers in the shortened draft and the new unrestricted free agency might be those men who are hated by football fans and NFL club executives alike. Agents. "Within two years, we`re going to be down to about 15 agents representing the major players in the league," said Bruce Allen, son of former Washington Redskins coach George Allen and himself an agent in Phoenix, Ariz. "Because of the salary cap and the cap on draft pick salaries you`re going to see commissions going down.

Q. How can I stay in the United States to care for my disabled baby? My son is a U.S. citizen. I came here to be with my baby when he underwent surgery. The surgery left him in a neurovegetative state. I don't want to leave him in a facility here, and he can't get the medical care he needs in my country. Does the law have any provisions for someone like me? -- D. Gibson, Fort Lauderdale A. In the most sympathetic cases, a local U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services district director can grant a foreigner "deferred action status."

NORTH LAUDERDALE -- The City Council on Thursday showed that the city`s sign ordinance means business, denying two developers` requests for special exceptions to the sign code. "We`ve got to draw the line somewhere," Vice Mayor Carl Fusco said. "Do we want an ordinance that limits the size of signs? If we do, we`d better stand behind it." The landowners had wanted to post signs larger than the limits imposed by the sign ordinance. Although the sign ordinance contains a provision for waivers in special circumstances, the council voted unanimously against granting waivers to the two developers.

LIGHTHOUSE POINT -- Merchants who contend that the unusual nature of their property or other special circumstances prevent them from strict compliance with the new landscaping rules can now take that problem to City Hall. The City Commission amended its landscaping ordinance on March 10 to include a provision enabling merchants to apply to the city`s Planning and Zoning Board for a special exception that would either exempt them from the landscaping requirements or give them special conditions.

A big thank you to Florida Power & Light Co. for the outstanding job getting the power back on. Listening to the radio in the dark with no air conditioning and hearing about how prepared and ready they were to go to work built confidence. But then seeing the trucks out while the storm was still roaring gives you the feeling that they were doing the best they could, and they did. Every FPL person out in the storm should get a special bonus. And about rate increases, we have "special" circumstances in Florida and there should be no hesitation about allowing "special" increases to replenish FPL reserves.

Bond was denied on Tuesday for real-estate tycoon Jurgen Schneider, accused of leaving behind $3.6 billion in debts in his native Germany and perpetuating that country's largest post-World War II real-estate scandal. Chief U.S. Magistrate William C. Turnoff denied unspecified bond for Schneider, agreeing with assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Tyrrell that the fugitive had no special circumstances to warrant release from prison. Tyrrell argued said Schneider, 61, should remain jailed because federal courts have refused bond in international extradition proceedings except in special circumstances such as special medical needs.

The biggest losers in the shortened draft and the new unrestricted free agency might be those men who are hated by football fans and NFL club executives alike. Agents. "Within two years, we`re going to be down to about 15 agents representing the major players in the league," said Bruce Allen, son of former Washington Redskins coach George Allen and himself an agent in Phoenix, Ariz. "Because of the salary cap and the cap on draft pick salaries you`re going to see commissions going down.

Although he broke a host of U.S. laws when he whisked his family out of Cuba and into Florida over the weekend, pilot Orestes Lorenzo Perez probably will not face charges, federal officials said on Monday. "We`re looking at unusual circumstances when someone flies to Cuba," said Customs Service spokesman Cliff Stallings. Lorenzo`s feat -- flying in and out of the United States without permission and bringing undocumented foreigners into the country -- did violate immigration laws. "It would serve no purpose to prosecute these people," said INS spokesman Duke Austin.

The Boca Raton City Council approved an ordinance Tuesday to regulate valet parking in the city. Businesses with more than 50 parking spaces will be allowed to set aside 15 percent of spots for valet parking as long as they're not the prime spaces. Businesses would have to get city approval and submit a valet parking plan. Valet parking would be prohibited if a property has fewer than 50 parking spaces, except under special circumstances where businesses share parking.